PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Compared to past years, reaction from state lawmakers and interest groups Wednesday night was overwhelmingly positive, following Governor Chafee's annual budget address.
House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, D-Providence, and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport, called the proposed budget a "great starting point" that reflects many of the priorities all three leaders have agreed will help move the state forward.
Municipal leaders also seemed to be pleased.
Cranston Mayor Allan Fung applauded the governor's proposed $10-million incentive
program for cities and towns to improve locally-run pension plans.
But he said there needs to be a push at the state level for reducing pension benefits so that mayors and town administrators can have the authority to control pension costs.
The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, which has, over the years, fought hard against a number of Chafee's major tax proposals, even found a lot to like in this year's proposal.
"Very pro-economic growth. It appears his budget was crafted in a considered way and we see a lot of forward looking thinking," said Laurie White, the chamber's president.
But labor union leaders were cautiously supportive.
Kate Brock, executive director of Ocean State Action, a labor union-backed coalition, applauded Chafee's proposed spending increases on workforce development and education, but voiced concern about "difficult decisions" in the area of human service spending.
"We're concerned about additional cuts at this time, when folks really need the help as we climb out of the economic recession," she said. "Any cuts would be really devastating to a lot of Rhode Island families."